The Bloody Ranch

By Filip Markovic

“Is it worth the sacrifice of love for justice?” This was the question of one innocent girl who lost everyone. She witnessed the crime that ruined her family, and after suffering the injustice, she ran away. After many years, she was cured of depression, and with the tragedy of her family locked in a cage inside her heart, she managed to find her true love, and now she was back to make things right! Once, her land, her bloody ranch, belonged to her, but it was no longer hers. In search of evidence, for light in darkness over her soul provoked by an unforgivable crime, she takes some dangerous steps on her way for justice! Everything comes with a price, as well as justice, and she is ready for the biggest sacrifice of her life—playing the game where she can win her deserved justice or lose her true love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728383903

Filip Markovic

Filip Markovi is at the beginning of his path to become an author with his first novel about crime, love and justice that he began writing when he was a high-school student. Born in Serbia, but he moved to Paris for work, now Mr. Markovi calls Paris his home. Between full-time jobs, writing become a priority and the passion of his life. He is a great teller of stories, also a poet in his soul, who combined these two passions to accomplish his first book.

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© 2019 Filip Marković. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/23/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8389-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8390-3 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1   The Beauty Of Depression

Chapter 2   One Long Trip

Chapter 3   The Love On The Foam Of Sea

Chapter 4   Love And Justice

Chapter 5   Revenge

You were the wind in my back,

You are an angel on my shoulders!

For my beloved J.

PROLOGUE

The mountain air, even after few years cut faces deeply. Although it’s mouth of July. I am seating on my pasture. Watching the horses running, feeling the rays of the sun on my face and strong heat on my skin, created by blows of the wind. Is this for real or am I dreaming, again? I don´t know. I am losing myself, while I am seating on the land. The land that was mine, and after many seasons, the land is again mine, just mine. The wind is taking me and I am choking in my tears. It is worth a risk of life and love for desperate justice? I lost my love and nearly my own life, but I have that justice, to push me on my back in life. Again, there is a one question: How to continue my life, only with justice and all alone? Augh, this is too much, let´s start from beginning.

My name is Leonor.

Today is my 23th birthday. I am a grown-up girl, a bit late but still, I can call myself mature. My entire life I spent here, in Zlatibor, on my family ranch. While my mother was giving a birth to me, her hard life ended. Her soul joined the angels on sky. I lost her, since the beginning. Behind her life, she left a lot of photos, with huge smile on her face. Remembering her voice that appeared in my dreams many times. Calling me and telling me a good night story. The important roles in my life were my father and uncle. They raised me. Also, the special name, Leonor, was given to me by them. They were always sure that I am here, in this world to do something important. I was not only for the ranch. I was more for better things, that waited for me in this life. For me, my life on ranch and my horses were everything I needed. I finished my primary school in Zlatibor and my high school in Cajetina, small city in entrance of Zlatibor. After finishing my high school of tourism, I have mastered English well. Hoping for going in Belgrade, the capital, for studying veterinary in the university. My family´s financial crisis did not allow me studies. I stayed on my ranch, with my animals, and I became a real mountain girl. Today, I am celebrating my birthday, with my father, uncle, aunt and my one and only friend, my neighbor. As my horse was giving a birth, gift from my father was a pony. That meant the whole world to me! The gift from heart and only thing that I wanted. My ranch was pretty big. Two big pastures, near the street and in a front of the family house. Sometime, you could not see the end of our land. The house was typical Serbian mountain house. One floor, seven very nice rooms and big kitchen, enough for all of us to live there. From the right side of the house, my father built stables, for our animals. We had 4 horses, a lot of chickens, few cows and sheep, three dogs and two rabbits. We were cultivating the cattle and the livestock. With time passing, we had more and more animals. This was our life. My uncle, when he had a bit of free time, he sailed the horse and hooked him on one old coachman. Around the noon, he was waiting in a center of Zlatibor for tourist ride over the one of the most famous mountains in Serbia. It’s true that after many years, Zlatibor has become the second-best touristic centers in the country. Somehow that helped us a lot with everything and we decided to take advantage of it. In a front of our house, we made the tables and chairs of stumps and pine tree. People could enjoy in fresh air, nature, animals and the most important, the real Zlatibor´s ranch. Enjoying every moment of learning children and grown up about the horses. The prices of everything, on our ranch, were reasonable, so we lived modest life. We were great workers for our ranch and we didn´t need anything else. As Zlatibor developed in few years, our ranch and our land were becoming more and more valuable. Besides many works, we were selling homemade cheese and cream. My father also made an alcoholic fruit drinks, using fruits like plums, sour cherries and quince, which become very popular. My aunt dried herbs like Hypericum, Thyme or Mint. She was making a tea for our guests. She also served the Serbian coffee and juices, so that our guests would enjoy their day and visit. Sometimes, I might take our honey with me to public market, to sale it. The honey was homemade. I was the one who draws it, so I have always suffered from the sting of bees. Our lives were fulfilled and how time passed, I forgot about veterinary. I was just happy where I was. With my family and my horses. The evenings full of fresh air with million various scents and me, seating in a front yard, writing a poem. To have ability to divert the verse from many different words was my skill. My poems were written on the papier directly from my soul, and my heart was controlling my hand and pen. I always had a bit of ink with me. What I needed, it was to ran a peacock all over the yard to steal one feather. When I had it, I seated in a front of my house, one strong coffee near me and empty paper. I was writing the poems until pain in my hand stop verses from my soul. Until this 23th birthday, my life was a paradise, a one very nice fairy tale story. Maybe, I didn´t know what love was, yet, but I was enjoying in every day of my life. I never thought of having a boyfriend or real love. I had my sympathies and my dreams, but not on that way. My friend and neighbor, dear Tea, was my age and we were soul mates. Totally different dreams from the rest of the world. Her family business was processing of wool and their farm was nearby. We were always together. In short saying, we had everything! Great neighbors, people visiting our ranch, happiness and healthy life. It was like we lived in some novel or happy story. Unfortunately, everyone knows that story like mine doesn’t exist. I never believed that one day, I can lose everything, on no matter which way. But this just happened. Everything started on my birthday, the anniversary of my mother´s death, on one happy and sad day.

CHAPTER 1

THE BEAUTY OF DEPRESSION

While the smell of fresh meat touches the notes of fresh air and fragrance of flowers, I prepared the dishes with my uncle’s wife. It was the twentieth of July, my birthday. We put the dining table in our garden and everything was nearly ready for one more mountain sunny day. Most of the time, that period of year is windy and a bit chilly. But that day, I felt like I was near the warm coast. It was more than thirty degrees and totally silent. There was not even a sweet sound of the forest as the slow summer wind moves the trees. That day, from our ranch, you could hear only a true laugh.

When we were done with preparing the table, I took a few carrots and went to see my horse. I nourished him, and I enjoyed, as always, touching his softly hair. I went on my knees to see my wonderful foal. He was confused, but accepted my hand and me, a moment of joy on my birthday. After my family, I loved my horse the most. His name was Leon. That’s what I wanted - to be special, like the name itself. That name was one of the most used in my poems.

I heard my father’s voice, calling me for lunch. Everything is ready. I kissed Leon good-bye and ran to be with them. We ate and laughed. My father and uncle enjoyed homemade brandy. I had sweet honey brandy, perfectly cold and sweet, just how I like. They gave all the attention to me that day from their hearts. My father suggested we visit my mother’s grave later that day. I agreed. Every year on the same day, we go to her grave. I feel like she enjoys it the same way I do. I thank her for giving me my amazing life, telling her that she is missed and that I love her so much. No one could give me a mother’s love. After her death, my father’s love-life died. He buried it together with her, for all eternity. He loved her so much, so there were no other women in his life.

After a delicious meal and a last drink, my uncle got up, took his wife’s hand, and said that they had to announce something. We will have one member more in our family, and they will need to be ready for parenting. At that moment, I had a smile from one ear to the other. One more priceless gift for my birthday. We congratulated them and drank one more drink. Our happiness was like a flame; we didn’t burn, but hell yes, we enjoyed.

I got up, to take some food to Leon. Then I saw one guy, looking in and standing in front of our gate. He had a black suit and tinted sunglasses. Behind him stood a young guy, similarly dressed and looking around. I started to go in their direction to see what they needed. Maybe they were lost.

Good morning, sir. May I help you with something?

I am searching for the owner of this hacienda. Is he here by any chance?

This is not hacienda. It’s the mountain ranch. I will call my dad.

Thanks, sweet girl.

He had a very different accent, like he was Croatian. There was a scary glare in his eyes. I went back to the table and told to my dad that some man was asking for him. He looked at my uncle and they both left. I stayed to help with cleaning the table. When the table was nearly done, my father and uncle returned. They were very nervous. I just wanted to know why, so I asked. But my father’s answer was short: Nothing important. That ended the conversation.

While I prepared myself for bed that evening, I went to the kitchen for a glass of water. When I passed my uncle and aunt’s room, the door wasn’t totally closed. I heard my uncle telling his wife what really happened today near the gate and what this guy wanted. The man was wondering about buying our ranch, saying how it would be a great investment for him and how you should bet the money on Zlatibor, because it was already the top tourist centre in western Serbia. He was really insistent, but it did not matter how much. My dad and uncle didn’t care.

When I heard that conversation, I got a bit scared. I didn’t even want to think about selling the ranch. I immediately went to my father’s room - to ask him his answer to the sale offer. He told me that, like always, I react very fast, no matter what. And I am exactly like my mother; I judge without listening. He reacted with a smile, then he opened the safe-deposit box behind the handmade tapestry on the wall near his bed. He took out a photo of my mother that I never saw before. The photo was from their wedding on our ranch, a big and very important moment of his life. While I was looking at the photo, he asked me a very simple question.

How can I sell this place full of beautiful memories of your mom?

My answer was strong hug. I was sure that he would not even think about it, and that’s why he was so tense after the conversation. I wished him sweet dreams and went to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up relaxed. The house was empty. My father had gone to market; the honey was ready for sale. My uncle and aunt went to her gynaecologist. I dressed, grabbed the carrots, and went to visit my dear Leon. When I left the house, the same man - near the gate, staring at the house. This time he was alone. I was so angry when I saw him. I remained calm, and while I was walking to him, I said,

Sir, the ranch isn’t still for sale!

I am Iver, nice to meet you.

Leonora.- I said, introducing myself.

I cannot convince your father to sell this marvellous land.

So now you came to convince me?

No, no, my sweet girl. But my offer no one would refuse.

Well, I refused it! My family refused it! As you can see, the offer is not important here, so please go away. I wish you a pleasant day.

I turned and continued on my way, but he kept talking.

Leonora, it’s wrong to play with one stronger than you.

I just laughed and continued on my way. When I arrived to Leon, I was a bit nervous. While I touched Leon’s beautiful hair, I thought about that guy, Iver. What the hell does he want from us, even after we gently refused him and his offer? Why he is insisting so much? I heard my father, arrive home. He was a bit tired. I didn’t want to say anything about Iver’s visit. I just ignored it all. He was already tired, and I didn’t want to make him stressed too.

The sunset was ready to be over our land, and the day was about to end. It was seven o’clock in the evening. I was seated in the front of my house with my dear, sweet bunny on my hands. My uncle helped my father with the animals, while his wife prepared the table for dinner. I heard the gate open. I stood up and went to see who it was. It was Iver and the guy who was with him the first time. This time, they entered with no shame. I turned and called my father and uncle. They come directly. My aunt and I stayed behind them. Iver again started with his offer, how no one would refuse it, about the changes, about the money. But this time, he had the sale contract in his hands, missing only my father’s signature. My father was insulted. First because of all the agony about insisting on sale, and second, Iver had everything done. He knew all about our beloved land.

In anger, my father lost his way. He took Iver in his arms and threw him on the ground. Iver stood up, his eyes even bigger with anger than my father’s. He wiped the dust from his coat and started going out of the yard. As he left, he threatened us, saying very weird things. To my uncle and father this was even worse, like he was putting salt on an open wound. They started to run at them. When they caught the men near the gate, they started to fight. Their anger gave my uncle and father a lot of pain on their faces. As the men escaped Iver screamed, we will pay you back!. I was scared, like never before. We had never been in a situation like this before. We did not fight with anyone. I was also scared seeing my father and his anger; he never before attacked anyone. The stress made him out of control, my uncle too. All these images killed my sleep that night.

The next day, my dear friend Tea invited me for a coffee. I accepted it like usual. She told me that yesterday from her garden, she saw my father arguing with someone. My soul felt lighter when I told her what happened, but then she gave me some information about that guy, that Iver. "He is Croatian, from Osijek. The other guy, the one with him, is his older son. He is twenty-eight, but people say like father like son, so years doesn’t matter. As far as I knew, Iver is a very dangerous man. His work is everything, good and bad. A few years ago, he was accused of transporting all kind of drugs from Croatia to Serbia. Somehow, he bought the justice. He is rich and already has a lot of land in Kopaonik. But how Zlatibor is nearer his homeland and to be a resident here, he is targeting some good properties. His work mask is tourism, which is perfect cover here, so people cannot tall what he has really been doing in his life. Pure Mafia guy. He is also a Serbian, because he was married in Serbia before. With small differences in languages, this place was perfect for his work. I was wondering how Tea knew all these things about him. She told me that he already bought some land here, and of course, this is a small place, people ask questions, gossip and talk. Through gossiping, Tea heard all about him and his son.

All these stories that I heard, scared me a lot. I tried to stay focus and keep everything inside, like always. I like to give attention on details, so I noticed camera in Iver’s hands. He carried it always with him. I don’t know why, but I should not care. Who is he? No one for me.

After our coffee, I went home to finish some works around the house. The night was falling, so I decided to give dinner to Leon and spent some time with him. Hay, where I was seating and giving food to Leon, was warm. I felt sleepy. Tired of everything, work and gossips, amazing smell of hay and warm